Life preserver



prl 25, E944. K. vARTAB-EDIAN- LIFE-PRESERVER Filed sept. 1s, 1941 Fini, from entering the garment.

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 iran sTATEs PATENT oFFics 2.34am urs rnasnavan.

Kaiusd Var-tabellini, Chicago, lll. Application september 1c; 1941,serial No. nasse a claims. (ci. z-ai) My invention relates to theimprovements in life preservers. and some of the objects of my lifepreserver are to provide a simple and expeditious seal at the zipperclosure of the suit whereby to prevent the infiltration of water whenthe suit is submerged and to prevent leakage from the interior thereof.

Other objects and attainments of my invention will appear as thefollowing detailed description further illustrated by the accompanyingdraw-- ing, summarize a presently preferred adaptationV in winch:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front vertical view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and somewhat exaggerated view of the pneumaticallysealed opening wiifi a part of the water-proof fabric showing; an v Fig.3 is a sectional detail View through the pneumatically sealed opening.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views andenlargements.

The life preserver forming the subject matter of my inventionconstitutes a garment generally indicated as 38 and comprising a bodyportion 39 made of a suitable waterproof fabric 2. The entire upper partof the garment 38 is provided with an opening 30 extending from shoulderto shoulder across the crown of the garment. This opening dii isprovided with a watertight seal generally indicated as t, which is bestillustrated in Figs. 2- and 3. The upper part of the4 lgarment 38 isfrmed to provide a mask 3 which is integral with the fabric 2 along theupper edge 4| of the mask which is creased or beaded to provide a hingewhereby the maskrmay be swung upwardly when not in use.

The remaining sides of the mask 3 form an ellipse which cooperates witha corresponding elliptical opening 43 each being provided with `awatertight seal 6 to unite the mask with the balance of the garment. Atransparent shield is formed into the fabric of the mask 3 at eye levelof the user so that the latter may see exteriorly of the garment. Themask 3 is further provided with a water seal 4valve generally indicatedas 4 whereby air may be drawn in and exhausted from the garment butwater will be absolutely blocked The head part and mask of my inventionis opened and closed by means of the pneumatic seal 6, through theopening lli the user enters the life preserver feet nrst. The arms m'aybe removed -from the sleeves while the user isin the garment. Throughthe same opening through which the limbs move freely in 56 2. In a.pneumatic seal user enters the garment, he may free his arms so that hemay use them on the outside of the garment. The sleeves terminate intoflexible gloves 9, 8, of the same fabric as the garment, allowing freeuse ofthe fingers. Noteihat the the very nexible and roomy garment. Eacharm is provided with an open ing 22 to permit removal of the forearm ofthe occupant. This opening is provided with a pneumatic seal l like thatat the crown and mask of the garment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the`pneumatic seal 6. This seal 6, invarying sizes. is used on mask 3, sleeves and head part of garment. Itis furnished with outer zippers" 34 and inner zippers" 35 and aninflatable tube 21 folded back upon itself. The tube 21 is of rubber andcan be inated to expand. On the right portion of the fabric 2 is set asingle length of the rubber tubing 21 which is fastened to the fabric inthree `shorter lengths, one end 32 being sealed and the other free end28 containing a valve. Part 26 of the tube contains one sideof outerzipper" 34 and folds between part 30 and 29 which comprise the other twoshort lengths of the tube 21.

`Tube part 28 is attached to tubey part 30 by a This innates all tubesagainst each other, forming a perfect seal as shown in Fig. 3. Thefollowing motions are required by the user to operate this pneumaticallysealed opening. He rst pulls shut outer zipper 34, then inner zipper 35and then inates tube 29, 28, 30. The seal may be made with a singlelength of rubber iniiated tube also.

The above description and material is not intended to limit my inventionto matters there set out but only by my appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pneumatic seal for waterproof fabric comprising a pair oi.'overlapping end portions corresponding in contour to provide an openingin said fabric, a pair of slide fasteners at the end of each of saidoverlapping end portions and adapted to provide a chamber at saidoverlapping end portions, and an inflatable tube arranged in saidchamber and expandable upon inflation to completely seal said chamberagainst ingress or egress of iiuid. Y Y

for a watertight comthe inner part of the tubes. Theuser infiates thetube by blowing in opening 33.

2 Y a assmea partment ycomprising a waterproof fabric having apalr ofoverlapping edge portions providing an opening in said fabric, a pair ofslide fastener means arranged on said fabric along the edge portion onthe inside of the fabric and along the edge portion on the outside ofsaid fabric to form an intermediate compartment between said slidefastener means, and an inatable tube disposed in saidjntermediatecompartment and adapted to lbe inated to expand within the latter toprovide an air seal between the inside andoutside of the fabric.

3. In a device 'of the class described having a p.

waterproof fabric body, a sealed opening for said body and comprising apair of overlapping edge' portions, fast means along the free edge otsaid edge portions and cooperating with complemental-y fastening meansspaced inwardly from the free edge portion on its opposite overlappingedge portion to unite the overlapping edge portions and to provide achamber between said fastening means, a pneumatic tube arranged on oneof said edge portions and folded back upon itself in several lengths to'dispose said tube in trebled condition within said chamber whereby whensaid tube is ted the abutting lengths of said tube .will expand' tocreate a seal.

USD A EDIAN.

